Hockey practice machine

ABSTRACT

A hockey practice machine, which includes a motor, and a dispensing arm operatively coupled to the motor. The dispensing arm includes a shaft and a plurality of arms extending therefrom. The hockey practice machine includes a drop tube which includes upper and lower drop tube openings and upper and lower drop tube elbows. The dispensing arm is positioned proximate to the upper drop tube opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/247,398, filed on Sep. 30, 2009, by the same inventor, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a machine for practicing shooting a hockey puck.

2. Description of the Related Art

In an ice hockey game, shooting the puck is one of the most difficult skills for the hockey player to master. Since the outcome of the game depends on the number of shots made by each team, it is desirable to improve hockey shooting skills. It is more likely that the team which includes players with better shooting skills will make more shots and win the game.

There are many different ways to improve hockey shooting skills. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,688 discloses a hockey puck shooting machine. There are other machines available that shoot a hockey ball instead of a hockey puck. These machines are often used off-ice and are convenient in situations in which an ice arena is not available.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a hockey practice machine which provides a moving object for practicing hockey shooting, as well as a method of manufacturing and using the machine. The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a perspective view of a hockey practice machine.

FIGS. 1 b and 1 c are front and back side views, respectively, of the hockey practice machine of FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 1 d is a side view of the hockey practice machine of FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 2 a is a cut-away side view of the hockey practice machine taken along a cut-line 2 a-2 a of FIG. 1 b.

FIG. 2 b is a cut-away side view of the hockey practice machine taken along a cut-line 2 b-2 b of FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 2 c is a top view of shelf, which is included with the hockey practice machine of FIG. 1 a.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are perspective views of a tube, which is included with the hockey practice machine of FIG. 1 a.

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are top and side views, respectively, of the hockey practice machine of FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 4 c is a front side view of the hockey practice machine of FIG. 1 a.

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are side and perspective view, respectively, of a dispensing arm, which is included with the hockey practice machine of FIG. 1 a.

FIGS. 5 c and 5 d are perspective and top views, respectively, of a T-tube included with the hockey practice machine of FIG. 1 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 a is a perspective view of a hockey practice machine 100, and FIGS. 1 b and 1 c are front and back side views, respectively, of hockey practice machine 100. FIG. 1 d is a side view of hockey practice machine 100. Hockey practice machine 100 can have many different shapes. However, in this embodiment, hockey practice machine 100 spans a rectangular volume.

In this embodiment, hockey practice machine 100 includes a front sidewall 101 with a front sidewall opening 110 extending therethrough. Front sidewall opening 110 is positioned towards a bottom wall 106 of hockey practice machine 100. Further, front sidewall opening 110 is positioned away from a top wall 105 of hockey practice machine 100.

In this embodiment, hockey practice machine 100 includes opposed sidewalls 102 and 103, which extend between front and back sidewalls 101 and 103. Further, opposed sidewalls 102 and 103 extend between top and bottom walls 105 and 106.

FIG. 2 a is a cut-away side view of hockey practice machine 100 taken along a cut-line 2 a-2 a of FIG. 1 b, and FIG. 2 b is a cut-away side view of hockey practice machine 100 taken along a cut-line 2 b-2 b of FIG. 1 a. In this embodiment, hockey practice machine 100 includes a shelf 120, which extends between front and back sidewalls 101 and 103. Shelf 120 is for carrying an assembly for releasing an object, as will be discussed in more detail below.

FIG. 2 c is a top view of shelf 120, which is included with hockey practice machine 100. In this embodiment, shelf 120 includes a shelf opening 121 extending therethrough. In this embodiment, shelf opening 121 is positioned towards sidewall 102 and away from sidewall 103.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are perspective views of a tube 130, which is included with hockey practice machine 100. In this embodiment, tube 130 includes a tube body 131 with an upper tube opening 132 positioned proximate to an upper tube elbow 134. In this embodiment, tube body 131 includes an upper tube opening 132 positioned proximate to an upper tube elbow 134. It should be noted that upper tube opening 132 faces a direction that is perpendicular to the direction faces by lower tube opening 133.

Tube 130 includes an inner tube channel that is sized and shaped to allow an object, such as a hockey ball, to move therethrough. In particular, upper and lower tube openings 132 and 133 are sized and shaped to allow the object to move through tube body 131.

It should be noted that tube 130 extends through shelf opening 121. Tube 130 extends through shelf opening 121 so that upper tube elbow 134 is positioned above shelf 120 and lower tube elbow 135 is positioned below shelf 120. Tube 130 extends through shelf opening 121 so that upper tube opening 132 is positioned above shelf 120 and lower tube opening 133 is positioned below shelf 120. It should be noted that shelf 120 and tube 130 are positioned so that lower tube opening 133 faces front sidewall opening 110 (FIG. 1 a).

Hence, the object is capable of moving from a location above shelf 120 to a location below shelf 120 by moving through upper tube opening 132, tube body 131 and lower tube opening 133. It should be noted that the object moves through tube 130 in response to gravity. As mentioned above, lower tube opening 133 faces front sidewall opening 110. Hence, the object moves through lower tube opening 133 and front sidewall opening 110.

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are top and side views, respectively, of hockey practice machine 100, and FIG. 4 c is a front side view of hockey practice machine 100. In this embodiment, hockey practice machine 100 includes a support structure 120 carried by shelf 120, and a T-tube 136 carried by support structure 120. FIG. 5 c is a perspective view of T-tube 136, and FIG. 5 d is a top view of the interior of T-tube 136. T-tube 136 includes opposed openings 136 b and 136 c, and an intermediate opening 136 a which faces perpendicular to the opposed openings 136 b and 136 c. It should be noted that tube 130 is coupled to T-tube 136 so that upper tube opening 132 faces intermediate opening 136 a of T-tube 136.

In this embodiment, hockey practice machine 100 includes a tray tube 137 which is coupled between opening 136 b of T-tube 136, and a tray 107. Tray 107 is positioned proximate to top wall 105, and is used to carry one or more objects, such as hockey balls 160.

In this embodiment, hockey practice machine 100 includes a motor 141 which is positioned proximate to opening 136 c of T-tube 136 so motor 141 is opposed to opening 136 b and tray tube 137. In this embodiment, hockey practice machine 100 includes a dispensing arm 150 operatively coupled to motor 141. Dispensing arm 150 extends between motor 141 and tray tube 135. Dispensing arm 150 is operatively coupled to motor 141 so that it rotates in response to the operation of motor 141. Dispensing arm 150 can be of many different types, one of which will be discussed in more detail presently.

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are side and perspective view, respectively, of dispensing arm 150. In this embodiment, dispensing arm 150 includes a shaft 151, which is cylindrical in shape. In this embodiment, dispensing arm 150 includes a plurality of arms coupled proximate to one arm of shaft 151. In this embodiment, dispensing arm 150 includes three arms, which are denotes as arms 152, 153 and 154, for illustrative purposes. Arms 152, 153 and 154 extend outwardly from shaft 151 and are equidistantly spaced apart from each other. It should be noted that the end of shaft 151 opposed to arms 152, 153 and 154 is received by motor 141. In this way shaft 151 rotates in response to the operation of motor 141. Further, arms 152, 153 and 154 rotate in response to the rotation of shaft 151. The operation motor 141, and the rotation of dispensing arm 150, will be discussed in more detail below.

Referring to FIGS. 4 a, 4 b and 4 c, hockey practice machine 100 includes a speed controller 142 operatively coupled to motor 141. Speed controller 142 can be operatively coupled to motor 141 in many different ways. In this embodiment, speed controller 142 is operatively coupled to motor 141 through a control switch 143, wherein control switch 143 is shown in FIG. 1 d. As will be discussed in more detail below, speed controller 142 controls the speed with which dispensing arm 150 rotates.

In this embodiment, power is provided to motor 141 through a plug 144, which is connected to speed controller 142. Control switch 143 is repeatably moveable between activated and deactivated conditions, wherein power is provided to motor 141 in response to control switch being in the active condition and power is not provided to motor 141 in response to control switch being in the deactivated condition.

In operation, hockey balls 160 are positioned on tray 107, wherein one hockey ball is denoted as hockey ball 161 in FIG. 4 c. Tray 107 is sloped so that the hockey balls positioned on it are biased to move to the opening of tray tube 137 that is positioned towards tray 107. In this way, the hockey balls move to T-tube 136 through tray tube 137. In particular, the hockey balls move through the opening of T-tube 136 opposed to motor 141.

During the operation of motor 141, dispensing arm 150 rotates. In particular, during the operation of motor 141, shaft 151 rotates, and arms 152, 153 and 154 rotate in response. Arms 152, 153 and 154 are positioned proximate to the intermediate opening of T-tube 136 so that the hockey ball moving through the opening of T-tube proximate to tray tube 137 is moved through the intermediate opening of T-tube 136. In this way, dispensing arm 150 moves an object through the intermediate opening of T-tube 136 in response to the object moving through one of the opposed openings, and in response to rotation of dispensing arm 150.

As mentioned above, T-tube 136 is coupled to drop tube 130 so that upper drop tube opening 132 faces the intermediate opening of T-tube 136. Hence, the hockey ball that is moved through the intermediate opening of T-tube 136 in response to the rotation of dispensing arm 150 moves through upper drop tube opening 132. In this way, dispensing arm 150 moves an object through drop tube 130 in response to the object moving through one of the opposed openings of T-tube 136, and in response to rotation of dispensing arm 150.

The hockey ball drops through drop tube body 131 and upper and lower drop tube elbows 134 and 135, as well as through lower drop tube opening 133. As mentioned above, lower drop tube opening 133 is positioned proximate to front sidewall opening 110. Hence, the hockey ball flows through front sidewall opening 110 and away from front wall 101.

It should be noted that the number of hockey balls which flow through front sidewall opening is adjustable in response to adjusting speed controller 142. As the rotation speed of dispensing arm 150 increases and decreases in response to adjusting speed controller 142, the number of hockey balls flowing through front sidewall increases and decreases, respectively. Further, as the rotation speed of dispensing arm 150 increases and decreases in response to adjusting speed controller 142, the number of hockey balls flowing through drop tube 130 increases and decreases, respectively.

It should be noted that the speed of the object through lower tube opening 133 corresponds to a drop distance D_(Drop) of tube 130, which is shown in FIGS. 3 a, 3 b 4 b and 4 c. In this embodiment, drop distance D_(Drop) of tube 130 corresponds to a distance between upper tube elbow 134 and lower tube elbow 135. As the distance between upper tube elbow 134 and lower tube elbow 135 increases and decreases, the speed of the object through lower tube opening 133 increases and decreases, respectively. In one embodiment, drop distance D_(Drop) corresponds to a distance between the lower portion of upper tube elbow 134 and the upper portion of lower tube elbow 135. In one embodiment, drop distance D_(Drop) corresponds to a distance between the lower portion of upper tube elbow 134 and the lower portion of lower tube elbow 135.

It should also be noted that the speed of the object through lower tube opening 133 corresponds to a distance D_(Shelf) between shelf 120 and bottom wall 106, which is shown in FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, 4 b and 4 c. As distance D_(Shelf) increases and decreases, the speed of the object through lower tube opening 133 increases and decreases, respectively. Drop distance D_(Drop) corresponds to distance D_(Shelf). As drop distance D_(Drop) increases and decreases, distance D_(Shelf) increases and decreases, respectively.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A hockey practice machine, comprising: a motor; a dispensing arm operatively coupled to the motor, wherein the dispensing arm includes a shaft and a plurality of arms extending therefrom; and a drop tube which includes upper and lower drop tube openings and upper and lower drop tube elbows, wherein the dispensing arm is positioned proximate to the upper drop tube opening.
 2. The machine of claim 1, wherein dispensing arm rotates in response to the operation of the motor.
 3. The machine of claim 1, further including a speed controller operatively coupled to the motor, wherein the speed controller controls the speed of rotation of the dispensing arm.
 4. The machine of claim 1, further including a T-tube with opposed openings and an intermediate opening which faces perpendicular to the opposed openings.
 5. The machine of claim 4, wherein the dispensing arm extends between the opposed openings of the T-tube.
 6. The machine of claim 5, wherein the dispensing arm moves an object through the intermediate opening in response to the object moving through one of the opposed openings, and in response to rotation of the dispensing arm.
 7. The machine of claim 5, wherein the T-tube is coupled to the drop tube so the upper drop tube opening faces the intermediate opening.
 8. The machine of claim 7, wherein the dispensing arm moves an object through the drop tube in response to the object moving through one of the opposed openings, and in response to rotation of the dispensing arm.
 9. A hockey practice machine, comprising: a motor; a dispensing arm operatively coupled to the motor, wherein the dispensing arm includes a shaft and a plurality of arms extending therefrom; a drop tube which includes upper and lower drop tube openings and upper and lower drop tube elbows; and a T-tube coupled to the drop tube so the upper drop tube opening faces an intermediate opening of the T-tube; wherein the dispensing arm is positioned proximate to the upper drop tube opening and intermediate opening.
 10. The hockey practice machine of claim 9, wherein dispensing arm rotates in response to the operation of the motor.
 11. The hockey practice machine of claim 10, further including a speed control operatively coupled to the motor, wherein the speed controller controls the speed of rotation of the dispensing arm.
 12. The hockey practice machine of claim 9, wherein the T-tube includes opposed openings which face perpendicular to the intermediate opening.
 13. The hockey practice machine of claim 12, wherein the dispensing arm extends between the opposed openings of the T-tube.
 14. The hockey practice machine of claim 13, wherein the dispensing arm moves an object through the intermediate opening in response to the object moving through one of the opposed openings, and in response to rotation of the dispensing arm.
 15. A hockey practice machine, comprising: a motor; a dispensing arm operatively coupled to the motor, wherein the dispensing arm includes a shaft and three arms extending radially therefrom; and a drop tube which includes upper and lower drop tube openings and upper and lower drop tube elbows, wherein the dispensing arm is positioned proximate to the upper drop tube opening.
 16. The machine of claim 15, wherein dispensing arm rotates in response to the operation of the motor.
 17. The machine of claim 15, wherein the arms are spaced equidistantly from each other.
 18. the machine of claim 17, wherein the arms extend from one end of the shaft.
 19. The machine of claim 18, wherein the dispensing arm moves an object through the intermediate opening in response to the object moving through one of the opposed openings, and in response to rotation of the dispensing arm.
 20. The machine of claim 18, further including a T-tube, wherein the shaft and arms of the dispensing arm extend through the T-tube. 